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Published: June 23rd 2006
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T-Minus 2 Days and Counting...
That's right folks! Just 48 hours and Joe and I will be on our way to Central America. We're pretty excited and a little bit nervous. (I always get butterflies prior to a do-it-yourself trip like this one.) I'm really glad I'm traveling with someone who is as capable and ready to go as Joe is. I know we are going to have a blast down there.
Our Travel Blog
This will be the first trip I've taken where I've had a travel blog like this... and I'm really, really excited about it. (In fact, I've gone a little overboard.) Not only will this blog be a great way to share our travels with family and friends back home, but it will also be a great way to remember our adventures once we're back.
Most entries will begin with an
Intro to the site/city/region we're currently exploring. The Intro's will be quotes from our guidebook that give the basic background information on the area. Additionally, many Intros will have links that take you to websites with additional information on the site/city/region we're visiting. After each Intro there will be a section titled
Our Experience.
This section will be a relaxed, firsthand account of what we did/saw/drank/ate/climbed/swam/rode/etc. Between the two sections, you should have a good picture of what we're seeing and doing for the next 2 months.
Lila's Red Hair
For those of you who weren't already anticipating it... I dyed my hair red! (And, as you can see - it was a DRAMATIC change.) I loved being a blonde ... loved it!! But, it was time for a change. You're only young once - so why not get a little crazy? So I did. Hehe. The red will stay for the trip, but as soon as we're back from Central America I'm planning to go back to my normal, mostly natural blonde. So, enjoy the red while it lasts ... I sure will!
What to Pack?
One of the most common questions I'm asked (mostly by my girlfriends) about backpacking - especially in third world countries - is "What do you bring?" The short answer is: "Not much." Naturally, Joe and I are packing light since we will be carrying everything we bring on our backs for two months. However, despite the fact we are trying to pare down our respective
loads, there are many things we must bring with us in order be prepared, stay safe and to enjoy our Central American adventure to the fullest.
Deciding what to bring and then figuring out how to make it fit in our packs was a tricky, time consuming process. Backpacks - even large ones - do not offer nearly as much space as today's mammoth suitcases. Here is our packing list, in a nutshell:
- Money and travel documents (and copies of travel documents)
- Money belt (always, always carry your money and travel documents on you - not in a purse or pack)
- Guidebook
- Spanish-English Dictionary
- Medicine (everything from Advil to our Malaria prescriptions)
- Leatherman (a multi-purpose tool)
- Travel clock
- Flashlight
- Camera (memory cards, battery/charger, USB cord, etc.)
- Clothing
- Footwear
- Swimwear
- Rain gear
- Toiletries
- Sunblock
- Bug spray
- Hand sanitation gel
Our Travel Plans
We're waking up at 4AM on Sunday, June 25th and driving a "cute" economy-sized rental car from Gainesville to Orlando, Florida.
From Orlando, we'll fly to Ft. Lauderdale and then on to
Cancun, Mexico where we'll land little after noon. (To see our flight path simply click on the Route Map at the top lefthand side of this blog.) We'll be staying in a hostel on
Isla Mujeres, an island off the coast of Cancun. Our plan for our first day in Mexico is to simply relax and enjoy the island. From there we'll begin our trek south along the coast of the Yucatan peninsula towards Belize. Our current travel itinerary (for the next week or so) is as follows:
Our Route Through Mexico
subject to change, of course
- Cancun / Isla Mujeres
- Chichen Itza
- Playa del Carmen / Cozumel
- Tulum / Coba
Hasta Luego!
Hasta luego means "see you later" in Spanish. The next time you hear from us we'll be south of the border. (More specifically, the next time you hear from us we'll be south of the border on Caribbean island enjoying a Corona con limon.) Take care, have a great summer, and please keep in touch!
- Joe & Lila
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Mary Beth
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You're awesome!
Girl, you are incredibly crazy...and I love it! What I would do to take a trip like this one... Y'all have a great time, stay safe and know I'll be waiting on your updates! MB